diff --git a/doc/v3/owl/migration_owl2_to_owl3.md b/doc/v3/owl/migration_owl2_to_owl3.md
index eb875b355..ba47fc496 100644
--- a/doc/v3/owl/migration_owl2_to_owl3.md
+++ b/doc/v3/owl/migration_owl2_to_owl3.md
@@ -511,7 +511,7 @@ class C extends Component {
   static template = xml`<div t-ref="this.div">...</div>`;
 
   setup() {
-    this.div = signal(null);
+    this.div = signal.ref();
     onMounted(() => {
       console.log(this.div());
     });
diff --git a/doc/v3/owl/owl3_design.md b/doc/v3/owl/owl3_design.md
index 89ad4adc6..c814840ac 100644
--- a/doc/v3/owl/owl3_design.md
+++ b/doc/v3/owl/owl3_design.md
@@ -1258,7 +1258,7 @@ class C extends Component {
   static template = xml`<div t-ref="this.ref">...</div>`;
 
   setup() {
-    this.ref = signal(null);
+    this.ref = signal.ref();
     onMounted(() => {
       console.log(this.ref());
     });
@@ -1854,7 +1854,7 @@ class Editor extends Component {
       </div>
     </div>`;
 
-  editable = signal(null);
+  editable = signal.ref();
 
   setup() {
     providePlugins([ContentPlugin, SelectionPlugin, TextToolsPlugin, GEDPlugin], {
diff --git a/doc/v3/owl/reference/hooks.md b/doc/v3/owl/reference/hooks.md
index 76481ade1..c5714647e 100644
--- a/doc/v3/owl/reference/hooks.md
+++ b/doc/v3/owl/reference/hooks.md
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ Here is an example of a `useAutofocus` hook built with `useEffect`:
 
 ```js
 function useAutofocus() {
-  const ref = signal(null);
+  const ref = signal.ref();
   useEffect(() => {
     const el = ref();
     if (el) {
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ reference:
 useListener(window, "click", this.closeMenu, { capture: true });
 
 // Listen on a ref signal — effect-based, re-attaches when element changes
-const ref = signal(null);
+const ref = signal.ref();
 useListener(ref, "scroll", this.onScroll);
 ```
 
diff --git a/doc/v3/owl/reference/portal.md b/doc/v3/owl/reference/portal.md
index a05ffd9a2..c0f5bcd1c 100644
--- a/doc/v3/owl/reference/portal.md
+++ b/doc/v3/owl/reference/portal.md
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ class Page extends Component {
     <div t-ref="this.modalRoot"/>
   `;
 
-  modalRoot = signal(null);
+  modalRoot = signal.ref();
 }
 ```
 
diff --git a/doc/v3/owl/reference/reactivity.md b/doc/v3/owl/reference/reactivity.md
index bc6fa94e8..bca618a15 100644
--- a/doc/v3/owl/reference/reactivity.md
+++ b/doc/v3/owl/reference/reactivity.md
@@ -89,6 +89,22 @@ list().push({ nested: { value: 2 } });
 list()[0].nested.value = 42;
 ```
 
+### Ref Signals
+
+`signal.ref()` creates a signal meant to receive a DOM element through the
+`t-ref` directive. It starts at `null` and is typed as
+`Signal<HTMLElement | null>` (or narrower if a constructor is given):
+
+```js
+class SomeComponent extends Component {
+  static template = xml`<input t-ref="this.inputRef"/>`;
+
+  inputRef = signal.ref(HTMLInputElement);
+}
+```
+
+See [References](refs.md) for more details.
+
 ## Computed Values
 
 A computed value is a lazily-evaluated derived value. It tracks its dependencies
diff --git a/doc/v3/owl/reference/refs.md b/doc/v3/owl/reference/refs.md
index 1c745d323..8eef4b632 100644
--- a/doc/v3/owl/reference/refs.md
+++ b/doc/v3/owl/reference/refs.md
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 # References
 
 References provide a way to interact with DOM elements rendered by a component.
-In Owl 3, references are signal-based: you create a `signal(null)` and bind it
-to a DOM node using the `t-ref` directive. The signal's value is the HTMLElement
-when mounted, or `null` otherwise.
+In Owl 3, references are signal-based: you create a signal with `signal.ref()`
+and bind it to a DOM node using the `t-ref` directive. The signal's value is the
+HTMLElement when mounted, or `null` otherwise.
 
 As a short example, here is how we could set the focus on a given input:
 
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ As a short example, here is how we could set the focus on a given input:
 
 ```js
 class SomeComponent extends Component {
-  inputRef = signal(null);
+  inputRef = signal.ref();
 
   focusInput() {
     this.inputRef()?.focus();
@@ -31,6 +31,18 @@ Note that this example uses the suffix `Ref` to name the reference. This
 is not mandatory, but it is a useful convention, so we do not forget that it is
 a reference signal.
 
+`signal.ref()` is simply a signal starting at `null`, properly typed as
+`Signal<HTMLElement | null>`. It optionally takes a constructor to narrow the
+element type:
+
+```ts
+inputRef = signal.ref(HTMLInputElement); // Signal<HTMLInputElement | null>
+```
+
+Any signal works as a `t-ref` target, so `signal(null)` is equivalent at
+runtime — but TypeScript would infer it as `Signal<null>`, so prefer
+`signal.ref()`.
+
 ## Multiple References with Resources
 
 When `t-ref` is used inside a loop, a single signal can only hold one element.
diff --git a/doc/v3/owl/reference/types_validation.md b/doc/v3/owl/reference/types_validation.md
index 19451447a..0ba60c544 100644
--- a/doc/v3/owl/reference/types_validation.md
+++ b/doc/v3/owl/reference/types_validation.md
@@ -300,6 +300,9 @@ t.ref(); // null | HTMLElement
 t.ref(HTMLInputElement); // null | HTMLInputElement
 ```
 
+Since it relies on `HTMLElement`, `t.ref()` throws when called in a non-DOM
+environment (e.g. server-side rendering).
+
 ### `t.or(types)`
 
 Validates that the value matches **at least one** of the given types (union).
diff --git a/packages/owl-core/src/signal.ts b/packages/owl-core/src/signal.ts
index 595861404..d4eb62746 100644
--- a/packages/owl-core/src/signal.ts
+++ b/packages/owl-core/src/signal.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { OwlError } from "./owl_error";
 import { Atom, atomSymbol, onReadAtom, onWriteAtom, ReactiveValue } from "./computations";
 import { proxifyTarget } from "./proxy";
+import type { Constructor } from "./types";
 
 export interface Signal<T> extends ReactiveValue<T> {
   /**
@@ -48,6 +49,17 @@ function triggerSignal(signal: Signal<any>): void {
   onWriteAtom((signal as any)[atomSymbol]);
 }
 
+/**
+ * Create a signal meant to receive an element through t-ref. It starts at null
+ * and is typed as `Signal<HTMLElement | null>` (or narrower if a constructor
+ * is given): `myRef = signal.ref()` or `inputRef = signal.ref(HTMLInputElement)`.
+ */
+function signalRef(): Signal<HTMLElement | null>;
+function signalRef<T extends Constructor<HTMLElement>>(type: T): Signal<InstanceType<T> | null>;
+function signalRef(): Signal<any> {
+  return buildSignal<any>(null, (atom) => atom.value);
+}
+
 function signalArray<T>(initialValue: T[]): Signal<T[]>;
 function signalArray<T>(initialValue: NoInfer<T>[], options: SignalOptions<T>): Signal<T[]>;
 function signalArray<T>(initialValue: T[]): Signal<T[]> {
@@ -90,6 +102,7 @@ export function signal<T>(value: T): Signal<T> {
   return buildSignal<T>(value, (atom) => atom.value);
 }
 signal.trigger = triggerSignal;
+signal.ref = signalRef;
 signal.Array = signalArray;
 signal.Map = signalMap;
 signal.Object = signalObject;
diff --git a/packages/owl-core/src/types.ts b/packages/owl-core/src/types.ts
index 7315d362f..46f8be448 100644
--- a/packages/owl-core/src/types.ts
+++ b/packages/owl-core/src/types.ts
@@ -308,7 +308,10 @@ function reactiveValueType(type?: any): ReactiveValue<any> {
 function ref(): HTMLElement | null;
 function ref<T extends Constructor<HTMLElement>>(type: T): InstanceType<T> | null;
 function ref(type?: any): any {
-  return union([literalType(null), instanceType(type)]);
+  if (typeof HTMLElement === "undefined") {
+    throw new Error("Cannot use ref in a non-DOM environment");
+  }
+  return union([literalType(null), instanceType(type || HTMLElement)]);
 }
 
 export const types = {
diff --git a/packages/owl-core/tests/signals.test.ts b/packages/owl-core/tests/signals.test.ts
index 96b58c860..9fe8dce95 100644
--- a/packages/owl-core/tests/signals.test.ts
+++ b/packages/owl-core/tests/signals.test.ts
@@ -43,6 +43,26 @@ test("trigger a signal", async () => {
   expect(() => signal.trigger(fakeSignal)).toThrow(/Value is not a signal/);
 });
 
+describe("signal.ref", () => {
+  test("starts at null and behaves like a plain signal", async () => {
+    const ref = signal.ref();
+    expect(ref()).toBe(null);
+
+    const e = spyEffect(() => ref());
+    e();
+    expectSpy(e.spy, 1, { result: null });
+
+    const el = {} as HTMLElement;
+    ref.set(el);
+    expect(ref()).toBe(el);
+    await waitScheduler();
+    expectSpy(e.spy, 2, { result: el });
+
+    ref.set(null);
+    expect(ref()).toBe(null);
+  });
+});
+
 describe("signal.Array", () => {
   test("simple use", async () => {
     const reactiveArray = signal.Array<number>([]);
diff --git a/packages/owl-core/tests/validation.test.ts b/packages/owl-core/tests/validation.test.ts
index d61c522c5..a5c09535a 100644
--- a/packages/owl-core/tests/validation.test.ts
+++ b/packages/owl-core/tests/validation.test.ts
@@ -517,6 +517,51 @@ test("record", () => {
   expect(validateType({ a: 123, b: 123 }, t.record(t.number()))).toEqual([]);
 });
 
+test("ref", () => {
+  // requires a DOM: throws when HTMLElement is not defined
+  expect(() => t.ref()).toThrow("Cannot use ref in a non-DOM environment");
+
+  class FakeHTMLElement {}
+  (globalThis as any).HTMLElement = FakeHTMLElement;
+  try {
+    class FakeHTMLDivElement extends FakeHTMLElement {}
+    const el = new FakeHTMLElement();
+
+    // no argument: accepts null or any HTMLElement (or subclass)
+    expect(validateType(null, t.ref())).toEqual([]);
+    expect(validateType(el, t.ref())).toEqual([]);
+    expect(validateType(new FakeHTMLDivElement(), t.ref())).toEqual([]);
+    expect(validateType(123, t.ref())).toEqual([
+      {
+        message: "value does not match union type",
+        path: "",
+        received: 123,
+        subIssues: [
+          { message: "value is not equal to null", path: "", received: 123 },
+          { message: "value is not an instance of 'FakeHTMLElement'", path: "", received: 123 },
+        ],
+      },
+    ]);
+
+    // with a constructor: narrows to that element type
+    expect(validateType(null, t.ref(FakeHTMLDivElement as any))).toEqual([]);
+    expect(validateType(new FakeHTMLDivElement(), t.ref(FakeHTMLDivElement as any))).toEqual([]);
+    expect(validateType(el, t.ref(FakeHTMLDivElement as any))).toEqual([
+      {
+        message: "value does not match union type",
+        path: "",
+        received: el,
+        subIssues: [
+          { message: "value is not equal to null", path: "", received: el },
+          { message: "value is not an instance of 'FakeHTMLDivElement'", path: "", received: el },
+        ],
+      },
+    ]);
+  } finally {
+    delete (globalThis as any).HTMLElement;
+  }
+});
+
 test("strictObject", () => {
   expect(validateType("", t.strictObject({}))).toEqual([
     { message: "value is not an object", path: "", received: "" },
diff --git a/packages/owl-runtime/tests/components/__snapshots__/refs.test.ts.snap b/packages/owl-runtime/tests/components/__snapshots__/refs.test.ts.snap
index 19eed745f..322bbf2cf 100644
--- a/packages/owl-runtime/tests/components/__snapshots__/refs.test.ts.snap
+++ b/packages/owl-runtime/tests/components/__snapshots__/refs.test.ts.snap
@@ -15,6 +15,21 @@ exports[`refs > basic use 1`] = `
 }"
 `;
 
+exports[`refs > basic use with signal.ref 1`] = `
+"function anonymous(app, bdom, helpers
+) {
+  let { text, createBlock, list, multi, html, toggler } = bdom;
+  let { createRef } = helpers;
+  
+  let block1 = createBlock(\`<input block-ref="0"/>\`);
+  
+  return function template(ctx, node, key = "") {
+    let ref1 = createRef(ctx['this'].input);
+    return block1([ref1]);
+  }
+}"
+`;
+
 exports[`refs > ref is set by child component 1`] = `
 "function anonymous(app, bdom, helpers
 ) {
diff --git a/packages/owl-runtime/tests/components/refs.test.ts b/packages/owl-runtime/tests/components/refs.test.ts
index 9868307c8..03ffaff00 100644
--- a/packages/owl-runtime/tests/components/refs.test.ts
+++ b/packages/owl-runtime/tests/components/refs.test.ts
@@ -30,6 +30,17 @@ describe("refs", () => {
     expect(test.button()).toBe(fixture.firstChild);
   });
 
+  test("basic use with signal.ref", async () => {
+    class Test extends Component {
+      static template = xml`<input t-ref="this.input"/>`;
+      input = signal.ref(HTMLInputElement);
+    }
+    const test = await mount(Test, fixture);
+    expect(test.input()).toBe(fixture.firstChild);
+    test.input()!.value = "test"; // typed as HTMLInputElement | null
+    expect((fixture.firstChild as HTMLInputElement).value).toBe("test");
+  });
+
   test("refs are properly bound in slots", async () => {
     class Dialog extends Component {
       static template = xml`<span><t t-call-slot="footer"/></span>`;
diff --git a/tools/playground/samples/canvas/main.js b/tools/playground/samples/canvas/main.js
index 7fe656aef..2a3fb59cf 100644
--- a/tools/playground/samples/canvas/main.js
+++ b/tools/playground/samples/canvas/main.js
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ class CanvasPaint extends Component {
             t-on-click="this.handleClick"/>`;
 
   points = signal.Array([]);
-  canvas = signal(); // empty for now
+  canvas = signal.ref(); // empty for now
 
   setup() {
     // the draw method will read the canvas signal, so the effect
diff --git a/tools/playground/samples/html_editor/html_editor/html_editor.js b/tools/playground/samples/html_editor/html_editor/html_editor.js
index 2b9baef1d..69cdf9034 100644
--- a/tools/playground/samples/html_editor/html_editor/html_editor.js
+++ b/tools/playground/samples/html_editor/html_editor/html_editor.js
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ export class HtmlEditor extends Component {
   });
 
   setup() {
-    this.editorRef = signal(null);
+    this.editorRef = signal.ref();
 
     onMounted(() => {
       const el = this.editorRef();
diff --git a/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/hibou_os/11/drag_and_drop.js b/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/hibou_os/11/drag_and_drop.js
index c10276e25..c88fb2760 100644
--- a/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/hibou_os/11/drag_and_drop.js
+++ b/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/hibou_os/11/drag_and_drop.js
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 import { signal, useEffect, useListener } from "@odoo/owl";
 
 export function useDragAndDrop(x, y) {
-    const root = signal(null);
-    const handle = signal(null);
+    const root = signal.ref();
+    const handle = signal.ref();
 
     useEffect(() => {
         const el = root();
diff --git a/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/hibou_os/11/readme.md b/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/hibou_os/11/readme.md
index fe799148e..b2d60adcc 100644
--- a/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/hibou_os/11/readme.md
+++ b/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/hibou_os/11/readme.md
@@ -31,8 +31,8 @@ handle:
 import { signal, useEffect, useListener } from "@odoo/owl";
 
 export function useDragAndDrop(x, y) {
-    const root = signal(null);
-    const handle = signal(null);
+    const root = signal.ref();
+    const handle = signal.ref();
 
     useEffect(() => {
         const el = root();
diff --git a/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/todo_list/10/todo_list_solution.js b/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/todo_list/10/todo_list_solution.js
index 62eb9fe7c..bacdb82e2 100644
--- a/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/todo_list/10/todo_list_solution.js
+++ b/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/todo_list/10/todo_list_solution.js
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ export class TodoList extends Component {
     static template = "tutorial.TodoList";
     static components = { TodoItem };
 
-    input = signal(null);
+    input = signal.ref();
 
     setup() {
         providePlugins([TodoListPlugin]);
diff --git a/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/todo_list/4/readme.md b/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/todo_list/4/readme.md
index 3264aab51..e97f37a1a 100644
--- a/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/todo_list/4/readme.md
+++ b/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/todo_list/4/readme.md
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ hooks.
 Here is what you need to do:
 
 - Create a `signal` in the `TodoList` component to hold a reference to the
-  input element: `input = signal(null)`
+  input element: `input = signal.ref()`
 - Bind it to the input element in the template using `t-ref="this.input"`
 - Use the `onMounted` hook to read the signal and call `.focus()` on the
   element
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ mounted, the signal contains the actual DOM element:
 ```js
 import { signal, onMounted } from "@odoo/owl";
 
-input = signal(null);
+input = signal.ref();
 
 setup() {
     onMounted(() => {
diff --git a/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/todo_list/4/todo_list_solution.js b/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/todo_list/4/todo_list_solution.js
index d0a43b500..2a0bcf531 100644
--- a/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/todo_list/4/todo_list_solution.js
+++ b/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/todo_list/4/todo_list_solution.js
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ export class TodoList extends Component {
     static components = { TodoItem };
 
     nextId = 4;
-    input = signal(null);
+    input = signal.ref();
 
     todos = signal.Array([
         { id: 1, text: "Buy milk", completed: false },
diff --git a/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/todo_list/5/main.js b/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/todo_list/5/main.js
index 78c735397..fab58ce51 100644
--- a/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/todo_list/5/main.js
+++ b/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/todo_list/5/main.js
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ class TodoList extends Component {
   filter = signal("all");
   editingId = signal(null);
   editText = signal("");
-  editInput = signal(null);
+  editInput = signal.ref();
 
   setup() {
     useEffect(
diff --git a/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/todo_list/5/todo_list_solution.js b/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/todo_list/5/todo_list_solution.js
index b85ddc7d4..612c1ca9b 100644
--- a/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/todo_list/5/todo_list_solution.js
+++ b/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/todo_list/5/todo_list_solution.js
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ export class TodoList extends Component {
     static components = { TodoItem };
 
     nextId = 4;
-    input = signal(null);
+    input = signal.ref();
 
     todos = signal.Array([
         { id: 1, text: "Buy milk", completed: signal(false) },
diff --git a/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/todo_list/6/main.js b/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/todo_list/6/main.js
index 26d0cace1..80616cb32 100644
--- a/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/todo_list/6/main.js
+++ b/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/todo_list/6/main.js
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ class Todo extends Component {
   props = { todo: TodoItem };
   todo = this.props.todo;
   isEditing = signal(false);
-  input = signal(null);
+  input = signal.ref();
   editText = signal(this.todo.text());
 
   setup() {
diff --git a/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/todo_list/6/todo_list_solution.js b/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/todo_list/6/todo_list_solution.js
index 04d2d9f03..42bce69db 100644
--- a/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/todo_list/6/todo_list_solution.js
+++ b/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/todo_list/6/todo_list_solution.js
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ export class TodoList extends Component {
     static components = { TodoItem };
 
     nextId = 4;
-    input = signal(null);
+    input = signal.ref();
 
     todos = signal.Array([
         { id: 1, text: "Buy milk", completed: signal(false) },
diff --git a/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/todo_list/7/todo_list_solution.js b/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/todo_list/7/todo_list_solution.js
index a1ad88724..cad4738e6 100644
--- a/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/todo_list/7/todo_list_solution.js
+++ b/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/todo_list/7/todo_list_solution.js
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ export class TodoList extends Component {
     static components = { TodoItem };
 
     nextId = 4;
-    input = signal(null);
+    input = signal.ref();
 
     todos = signal.Array([
         { id: 1, text: "Buy milk", completed: signal(false) },
diff --git a/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/todo_list/8/todo_list_solution.js b/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/todo_list/8/todo_list_solution.js
index 62eb9fe7c..bacdb82e2 100644
--- a/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/todo_list/8/todo_list_solution.js
+++ b/tools/playground/samples/tutorials/todo_list/8/todo_list_solution.js
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ export class TodoList extends Component {
     static template = "tutorial.TodoList";
     static components = { TodoItem };
 
-    input = signal(null);
+    input = signal.ref();
 
     setup() {
         providePlugins([TodoListPlugin]);